PENNSYLVANIA

This is an unofficial benefits estimator and not an application. No personal data is collected or stored. Actual amounts may vary based on individual circumstances, location, eligibility criteria, and recent data updates at the time of application.

Pennsylvania Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Pennsylvania TANF provides needy families with temporary financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, utilities, and expenses other than medical.

In Pennsylvania, a family is considered “needy” when their countable income is less than $403 a month for a family of three.

As a condition of eligibility, those receiving cash benefits are required to complete and sign an agreement to engage in work activities that will lead to employment.

How much cash assistance will I get in PA?

Pennsylvania has different benefit levels based on geographic location. The benefit levels listed here are for Group 2, which includes Philadelphia County, the county with the most TANF participants.

For example, a family of 4 in Philadelphia County with little or no income may receive up to $497 in cash benefits each month.

How do I apply for cash assistance in PA?

Now you can apply for TANF from the comfort of your home using COMPASS  or in person at your local County Assistance Office (CAO).

Department of Human Services Helpline
(800) 692-7462

Pennsylvania Diversion Program

Pennsylvania Diversion is a way for families to choose short-term help rather than long-term ongoing cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

It provides a one-time lump sum payment once in a 12-month period dependent upon your need, with the maximum payment set at three (3) times the Family Size Allowance  (FSA). That’s about $1,209 for a family of three.

In Pennsylvania, Family Size Allowance (FSA) may refer to a monthly cash assistance payment or a benefit used to determine eligibility for TANF.

How much do I get for the diversion program in PA?

How do I apply for diversion program in PA?

For a short-term, non-recurrent, cash payment, you may apply for Diversion Assistance by completing an online application through COMPASS .

Upon successful submission, a face-to-face interview will be arranged to determine your eligibility.

Pennsylvania Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Pennsylvania SNAP helps low income individuals and families obtain more nutritious diets and eat healthier by supplementing their monthly food budget.

Benefits range from a minimum of $298 per household member to a maximum of $785 for a family of three but may vary based on household’s size and net income.

What is the household income for SNAP benefits in PA?

In Pennsylvania, eligibility is limited to households with gross income of up to 200% of the poverty level or about $4,442 per month for a family of three.

If you are eligible, you will receive a Pennsylvania EBT ACCESS Card which can be used to make food purchases at grocery stores and supermarkets.

How do I apply for SNAP benefits in PA?

Now you can apply for SNAP from the comfort of your home using COMPASS  or in person at your local County Assistance Office (CAO).

Department of Human Services Helpline
(800) 692-7462

Pennsylvania SUN Bucks

SUN Bucks, Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT program, is a new grocery benefits program that provides households with a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy food during the summer months when school is not in session.

Many children will get these benefits automatically, but some households will need to apply. The benefits will be added to an existing SNAP/TANF EBT card or a newly issued Summer EBT card.

Use the Eligibility Navigator  to determine if your child is eligible for SUN Bucks and whether you need to apply.

For additional information, call
Statewide Customer Service Center
(877) 395-8930

Pennsylvania Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Pennsylvania WIC is a federally funded program that provides healthy supplemental foods and nutrition services for eligible pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children under age five who meet the income guidelines.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for WIC:

1. Live in Pennsylvania.
2. Be a pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child under 5 years old.
3. Have a household income less than 185% of the federal poverty limit.
4. Have a nutritional need or risk.

What is the income limit for WIC in Pennsylvania?

To be eligible for WIC, you must have a gross household income not exceeding 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. That’s about $4,109 a month for a family of three.

How do I apply for WIC in Pennsylvania?

WIC Agencies provide services in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. You may call (800) 942-9467 to be connected to a WIC office in your county.

Pennsylvania Medical Assistance

Pennsylvania Medical Assistance, also known as Medicaid, offers health care coverage for Pennsylvania residents who meet the program’s eligibility requirements for Medicaid.

Unlike regular health insurance, you don’t have to pay for it but there may be a small co-payment for certain services , usually between $1 – $3.

What is the income limit Medicaid in PA?

Pennsylvania opted to implement the Medicaid expansion in 2014. As a result, Medicaid now covers nearly all uninsured Pennsylvanians age 19-64, including children age between 6-18, with income up to 138% of poverty level.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Pennsylvania?

You can apply for or renew your Medical Assistance online by using COMPASS  or apply by telephone by calling the Consumer Service Center at (866) 550-4355.

Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program

Pennsylvania CHIP provides health coverage to uninsured children up to age 19 whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private coverage.

Most families are eligible to receive CHIP at no cost. Families with incomes above the free CHIP limits will pay low monthly premiums  and co-pays for some services.

Low-cost CHIP has premiums ranging from $53 to $86 per month and copays ranging from $5 to $25 per service.

American Indian and Alaska Native children are excluded from any premium, enrollment fee, copayment, coinsurance, or deductible in CHIP.

What is the maximum income to qualify for CHIP in PA?

In Pennsylvania, children with family income up to 319% of poverty or about $85,014 for a family of three are eligible for CHIP.

How do I apply for CHIP in PA?

Call the CHIP helpline at (800) 986-KIDS (5437) and select prompt No. 2, then select prompt No. 1 for application assistance or you can apply online by using COMPASS .

Pennsylvania SelectPlan for Women

Many women and men can now receive reproductive health services such as no cost birth control, Pap tests, STD testing and treatment and much more through Family Planning Services Program  (formerly SelectPlan for Women)

Pennsylvania’s SelectPlan for Women, a limited Medicaid program, is a program that offers free and confidential women’s health care for women age 18-44, including free birth control. Coverage is unlimited and entirely free.

To qualify, you must be a Pennsylvania resident with income not exceeding 215% of the poverty level and have no private insurance or Medicaid.

What is the income limit for SelectPlan for Women in PA?

You can apply online with COMPASS , or apply in person at any County Assistance Office or COMPASS Community Partner, including family planning clinics near you.

Pennsylvania Child Care Works

Subsidized child care in Pennsylvania is provided through the Child Care Works  program that helps lower-income families pay their child care fees.

Since it is a subsidy, most families are required to pay a percentage of cost of child care in the form of a copayment — known as the family co-pay, on a sliding fee basis.

As a condition of eligibility, parents are required to work at least 20 hours a week or work at least 10 hours a week AND participate in an approved training program at least another 10 hours a week.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Pennsylvania?

Most families with incomes up to 200% of federal poverty level or about $4,442 a month for a family of three, qualify for child care subsidy.

The income limits for families of different sizes are listed in the chart below.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Pennsylvania?

You must submit an application to the ELRC to see if you meet the guidelines for the subsidized child care program. For more information, call the Child Care Works helpline at (877) 4-PA-KIDS.

Pennsylvania Head Start

Pennsylvania Head Start promotes school readiness for children in low-income families between the ages of 3 and 5. It does this by providing comprehensive educational, health, nutritional, and social services that prepare them for school and life.

Families who are 100% of the federal poverty level are eligible to apply. The pre-school program may be offered as center-based or home-based services — and is free.

What is the income limit for Head Start in Pennsylvania?

How do I apply for Head Start in PA?

You may apply for Head Start or Early Head Start services through your local Head Start grantee. Use the Head Start Provider Locator  to find the program in your community.

Pennsylvania Housing Choice Voucher Program

The HCV wait list is currently closed in Pennsylvania. Applicants may check their status online  or by calling (215) 684-4300.

Pennsylvania’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, provides housing vouchers to low income families and individuals to find a housing unit of their choice in the public housing market.

Families who are income eligible often need to pay up to 40% of their rent and utilities while PHA cover the difference between the amount paid by families and the market rent for the unit.

In general, PHA pays monthly rent directly to the owners or landlords of the units. The tenants do not receive any of the money paid for rental subsidy.

Pennsylvania Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Pennsylvania LIHEAP helps low-income families pay their heating bills. This one-time payment is sent directly to your utility company or fuel provider, and it will be credited on your bill.

The table below shows the minimum and maximum LIHEAP assistance amounts available to eligible households in Pennsylvania.

In addition to the LIHEAP cash program, households experiencing a heating crisis, such as a utility shutoff, a broken heating system, or being in danger of running out of fuel, may be eligible for additional benefits through the LIHEAP crisis program.

What is the income limit for LIHEAP in PA?

The income limit for LIHEAP in PA is 150% of the federal poverty level. For a family of three, that’s about $3,331 per month to qualify.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania?

Applications for LIHEAP are now available online through COMPASS  starting on December 3, 2025 and remain open until April 4, 2026.

If you need help paying your heating bills, or have a heating emergency, please contact the LIHEAP hotline at (866) 857-7095.

Pennsylvania Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households may not receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.

Pennsylvania LIHWAP is a temporary emergency program designed to help low-income households and families who need help with water bills or who may lose water service.

Households who are at or below 150% of the poverty level are eligible for a one-time credit up to $5,000 applied to their water utilities account. Priority will be given to households that have been disconnected or are at risk of being disconnected.

LIHWAP covers renters, homeowners and those who already receive utility assistance through LIHEAP as long they meet income requirements.

What is the income limit for LIHWAP in Pennsylvania?

How can I get help with my water bill in Pennsylvania?

If you are in danger of falling behind on your water bills, you may apply online through COMPASS  or in person at a local County Assistance Office.

Pennsylvania Unemployment Insurance

Pennsylvania Unemployment Insurance is a state-operated insurance program designed to partially replace lost wages when you are out of work through no fault of your own.

To qualify for unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period ’ and must have, prior to filing a claim:

1. earned at least $116 per week during at least 18 weeks in the base period, and
2. earned at least $1,688 during the highest quarter in your base period, and
3. earned at least $3,391 in total wages during the base period.

How much do I get a week for PA unemployment?

The current maximum unemployment benefit rate in Pennsylvania is capped at $605 a week and an additional $5 per week for the first dependent and $3 per week for each additional child.

How do I file for unemployment in PA online?

You can file your initial claim electronically  or if you wish to file your claim over the phone, please call the statewide toll-free number at (888) 313-7284.

If you are eligible for benefits, you should receive your first benefit payment within four weeks after the effective date of your application.

Pennsylvania State Grant Program

Pennsylvania State Grant Program is a state-funded financial aid program that provides funding to eligible Pennsylvanians who demonstrate high financial need to attend college.

Award amounts vary, and are determined by financial need, cost of tuition, and availability of funds. For applicants attending approved Pennsylvania institutions, the current maximum annual award is set at $5,750.

To be considered for a Pennsylvania State Grant, you must file your FAFSA no later than May 1^st each year, and complete the PA State Grant Form if you are applying for the first time.

Students attending summer courses may apply for the award for the summer term. The deadline is August 15^th. Due to limited funding, late applications will not be considered.

Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (WPTC)

The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (WPTC) is a new state-level tax credit  modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The state credit is set at 10% of the federal credit. If a family qualifies for a $2,000 federal EITC, they can claim an additional $200 on their state income tax bill.

To be eligible for the WPTC, you must:

1. Be residents of Pennsylvania.
2. Have earned income from wages, salary, or self-employment.
3. File both federal (Form 1040) and Pennsylvania state (PA-40) tax returns.
4. Qualify for the federal EITC.

To claim, file both your federal Form 1040 and PA-40 state tax return. You can file your PA-40 for free on myPATH , the Department of Revenue’s online filing system for state taxes.